Inauguration of Autodesk Design & Innovation  Studio, Makers Lab, and Clay Lab at KIIT School of Design

KIIT School of Design hosted the inauguration of the Autodesk Design & Innovation Studio, Makers Lab, and Clay Lab, marking a significant milestone in the School’s ongoing efforts to advance design education, innovation, technology, and experiential learning.

The exalted occasion was graced by the presence of Founder Dr. Achyuta Samanta; Vice Chancellor Dr.Saranjit Singh; Registrar Dr.Jnyana Ranjan Mohanty; Senior Director General, KIIT, Dr. S. S. Ray; and Director General, KIIT Art Academy, Padmashree Adwaita Gadanayak, along with distinguished dignitaries and representatives from Autodesk India and the Twintech–Autodesk team.

Distinguished Representatives from Autodesk India were Mr. Akhilesh Sahi, Lead – India Academic, Field Engagement, Autodesk India; Mr. Arun Kumar, Senior Engagement Education Manager, Adoption – AEC, Autodesk India; Dr.Saigeeta Priyadarshini, Partner Success Manager, Autodesk India Twintech–Autodesk Team; Mr. Niranjan Kumar Singh, Managing Director, Twintech Autodesk ALP and Dr. Nisha Singh, Director, Twintech Autodesk ALP

Addressing the gathering, Founder Dr. Achyuta Samanta expressed his appreciation to the Autodesk team for their valuable contribution towards establishing the state-of-the-art Autodesk Design & Innovation Studio. He encouraged students to embrace creativity, explore new possibilities, and make the fullest use of the newly established studios and laboratories to enhance their knowledge, skills, and practical learning experiences.

Dr. S. S. Ray, Senior Director General, KIIT, spoke about the intrinsic relationship between design, pottery, craftsmanship, and everyday life. He encouraged students to remain connected to their roots, cultural heritage, and traditional practices while pursuing professional growth and exploring new frontiers of contemporary design.

Padmashree Adwaita Gadanayak, Director General, KIIT Art Academy, expressed his happiness at the establishment of these new facilities and appreciated the vision and initiative of the Founder in creating meaningful opportunities for students to learn, experiment, create, and develop their artistic and creative potential.

Prof. Saranjit Singh, Vice Chancellor, KIIT DU, shared his vision of positioning KIIT School of Design as a leading institution for design education, not only in Eastern India but across the country. He also expressed his appreciation for creative and hands-on disciplines such as clay modelling, emphasising the importance of integrating traditional craftsmanship, material exploration, and contemporary design education.

Dr.Jnyana Ranjan Mohanty, Registrar, KIIT DU, expressed his gratitude to all the distinguished dignitaries, partners, and stakeholders for their valuable support and contribution towards the establishment of the new studios and laboratories. He acknowledged the collective efforts that made the development of these facilities possible.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Akhilesh Sahi, Lead – India Academic, Field Engagement, Autodesk India, highlighted the uniqueness of the Autodesk Design & Innovation Studio, describing it as a distinctive Centre of Excellence and one of its kind in Eastern India. He expressed his enthusiasm for future collaborations and innovative projects, particularly those that bring together diverse disciplines such as Civil Engineering, Architecture, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Fashion, and Design. He emphasised the potential of Autodesk’s technological ecosystem to facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration and foster innovation across different domains.

Mr. Arun Kumar, Senior Engagement Education Manager, Autodesk India, appreciated the vibrant and inspiring academic environment at KIIT and highlighted the University’s commitment to nurturing creativity, innovation, and the creative potential of its students.

Dr.Saigeeta Priyadarshini, Partner Success Manager, Autodesk India, emphasised the vital role of educators in fostering innovation and preparing students for the future. She highlighted the importance of continuous learning among faculty members and encouraged them to explore emerging digital tools, technologies, and software platforms to enhance teaching and inspire students to develop innovative, technology-driven design solutions.

Dr. Nisha Singh, Director, Twintech Autodesk ALP, recalled KIIT’s achievement of receiving the Autodesk Excellence Award in 2025 and expressed confidence that the newly established facilities would provide students and faculty with greater opportunities to innovate, collaborate, and achieve new milestones of excellence in the future.

The Vote of Thanks was delivered by Dr. Sushanta Tripathy, Dean, KIIT School of Design, who expressed his sincere gratitude to the Hon’ble Founder, University leadership, Autodesk India, Twintech Autodesk ALP, and all the distinguished dignitaries for their valuable presence, encouragement, and continued support. He also acknowledged the dedicated efforts and contributions of the faculty and staff members of KIIT School of Design, along with colleagues from various departments across KIIT, whose collective efforts played a vital role in establishing these state-of-the-art studios and laboratories.

The inauguration marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter in the journey of KIIT School of Design, establishing a dynamic ecosystem that brings together advanced digital design technologies, hands-on making, prototyping, fabrication, material exploration, craftsmanship, and creative experimentation.

The Autodesk Design & Innovation Studio will empower students to explore industry-relevant digital design tools, advanced software, and emerging technologies. The Makers Lab will foster innovation through hands-on prototyping, fabrication, experimentation, and interdisciplinary collaboration, while the Clay Lab will provide a dedicated environment for exploring materials, form, craftsmanship, and three-dimensional design.

Together, these state-of-the-art facilities reaffirm KIIT School of Design’s commitment to building a future-ready, industry-connected, and innovation-driven design ecosystem. The initiative aims to nurture the next generation of designers, innovators, and creative leaders by bridging the worlds of design, technology, craftsmanship, and real-world making.

The inauguration stands as a proud milestone in the growth of KIIT School of Design and reinforces its vision of empowering students to imagine, create, innovate, and shape the future through design.